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Transient versican expression is required for β1-integrin accumulation during podocyte layer morphogenesis in
Isabelle Buisson1, Jean-François Riou1, Muriel Umbhauer1
1Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR8263, Inserm U1345-Laboratoire Développement, Adaptation et Vieillissement (Dev2A), Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS), 9, quai Saint-Bernard, 75005, Paris, France.
Cells & Development
|December 15, 2025
Summary
The extracellular matrix component versican (vcan) is crucial for vertebrate kidney development. This study shows vcan regulates glomus morphogenesis and podocyte layer assembly in Xenopus pronephros development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Extracellular Matrix
- Kidney Morphogenesis
Background:
- Vertebrate nephron organization is conserved, but nephrogenesis varies. The Xenopus pronephros is a non-integrated kidney with unique filtration mechanisms. The role of extracellular matrix (ECM) in pronephros development is unclear.
- Versican (vcan), an ECM proteoglycan, is implicated in various developmental processes. Its specific function in kidney development, particularly in non-integrated nephrons, remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of the ECM component versican (vcan) in the development of the pronephric kidney in Xenopus laevis.
- To elucidate the role of vcan in the morphogenesis of the glomus, nephrocoel, and nephrostomes, key features of the non-integrated pronephros.
Main Methods:
- Morpholino-mediated knockdown of vcan in Xenopus laevis embryos.
- Analysis of pronephros morphology, including glomus, nephrocoel, and nephrostome development.
- Immunohistochemical detection of ECM components and podocyte markers (β1-integrin, nphs2).
Main Results:
- Vcan knockdown resulted in proximal tubule abnormalities (fusion, dilation, loss of convolutions) but did not affect nephrostomes.
- Glomus morphogenesis was severely disrupted, with failure of the characteristic C-shaped podocyte layer formation and impaired β1-integrin accumulation.
- The podocyte differentiation marker nphs2 remained expressed, and other ECM components (fibrillin, laminin, fibronectin) were correctly localized, suggesting a specific role for vcan.
Conclusions:
- Versican plays a specific and temporally regulated role in glomus morphogenesis during kidney development.
- Vcan likely facilitates β1-integrin accumulation and cell-ECM interactions essential for proper podocyte layer assembly.
- These findings enhance the understanding of ECM dynamics in kidney development, particularly in non-integrated nephron structures.
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